Twangville

A music blog featuring Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, Rock, Folk & Blues. Est. 2005.

True North – Elsebound

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For the first few decades of bluegrass music, it tended to lean toward the high, lonesome sound invented by Bill Monroe, or an old-timey vibe like the Carter Family or the Osborne Brothers.  Then in the 70’s a few artists emerged that pushed the boundaries of the genre; John Hartford, New Grass Revival, Hot Rize, to name […]

Joseph Huber – The Hanging Road

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Joseph Huber is a 21st century cowboy.  Back in the middle of the 19th century, a type of individual emerged in the American West who learned to take advantage of a new opportunity.  No longer did you have to live within sight of your neighbor and define yourself by your community.  You could go live […]

Old Settler’s Music Fest – 2014 Edition

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Every spring, a couple of weeks after the madhouse of SXSW, the music festival season kicks off with Old Settler’s Music Festival, about a half hour outside of Austin.  Started as a bluegrass festival, Old Settler’s now embraces a broad spectrum of Americana.  Organizer Jean Spivey has a magic touch for consistently mixing old with […]

Lost & Nameless, Cody Jasper

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Empty Spaces, the latest EP from Lost & Nameless opens with a title track that is perhaps best described as an Americana tango.  So right from the get-go you know this is going to be an interesting listen.  The remainder of the record does not disappoint.  Lost & Nameless is an Austin-based group composed of […]

Katie Glassman & Snapshot – Dream A Little Dream

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When I first ran across Katie Glassman a couple of years ago (review here), I noted her album was exploring a lot of genres.  Her latest release, Dream A Little Dream, hit the streets earlier this week featuring her now-permanent band, Snapshot.  She’s taken a significant step forward as a recording artist with this project. […]

Mayer’s Playlist for January 2014, Part 1

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ALBUMS OF THE MONTH Hard Working Americans, by Hard Working Americans ‘Ya gotta love this album on principle. A veritable super-group of Americana and jam-band artists* get together for, well a jam-session. They forgo writing their own songs and instead champion some of their (and my) favorite songwriters. Like I said, how can you not […]

The Twangville 2014 Release Preview

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If the releases below are any indication, 2014 is shaping up to be a musical embarrassment of riches. What releases, whether on this list or not, are you most excited to hear? HARD WORKING AMERICANS by HARD WORKING AMERICANS(21 January on Melvin Records/Thirty Tigers Records) What happens when a group of musicians — Todd Snider, […]

Monday Morning Video: a Double Dose of Robbie Fulks

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Here’s the affable Robbie Fulks performing a longtime favorite, the title track from his 1998 release Let’s Kill Saturday Night. I’m not sure why the video title reads “Sometimes the Grass Is Really Greener,” a track from last year’s Gone Away Backward. In honor of the mistake, however, here is Fulks performing that song in […]